Oversheaming sewing-machine.



IILLLIHLDJJ DLXIL. l, .LtJUO- No. BET/A86.

R. L. PLUMLEY.

OVBRSEAMING SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18,1907.

5 sums-SHEET 1.

IN YE N TOR ATTORNEY.

PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1908.

R. L. PLUMLEY. OVERSEAMING SEWING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIONIIL'ED JULY 18,1907.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' wlmzsss;

L4" ATTORNEY.

ma Remus PE1IRS cm, WASHINGTON, c c

PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1908.

R. L. PLUMLEY. OVERSEAMING SEWING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 18,1907.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOH WI HESSES A: ATTORNEY.

rus uonms PETERS co., WASHINGTON, n. c.

No. 897,486. PATENTED SEPT. '1, 190

R. L. PLUMLEY. OVERSEAMING SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19,1907.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

i ATTORNEY.

PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1908.

R. L. PLUMLEY. OVERSEAMING SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18,1907.

5 SHBETS-SHEET 5.

THE "cams PETERS cm, WASHINGTON, u. c

UNITED RTATES PATENT OFFIQEL.

RAYMOND L. PLUMLEY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOR TO FREDERICK OSANNCOMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

OVERSEAMIN'G SEWING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 18, 1907.

latented. Sept. 1, 1908.

Serial No. 38 L329.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAYMOND L. PLUM- LEY, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing in Wilmington, in the county of Newcastle and Stateof Delaware, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement inOverseaming Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a true and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whichform a part thereof.

My present invention relates to sewing machines for overseaming of thetype commonly called fur stitching machines. These machines as usuallyconstructed comprise a pair of feeding disks between which the work isgripped and intermittently advanced,a needle parallel to the plane ofthe disks and reciprocating in the direction of its length to carry itsoperating end back and forth across the line at which the disks meet,and a looper which enters the loop of thread carried through the work bythe needle and carries the loop back to the other side of the work intosuch a position that the needle passes through the loop before enteringthe work in the formation of the next stitch. To perform thesefunctions, the looper is given mo tions in three directions, oneparallel to the motion of the needle, one toward and away from the planeof the feeding disks, and one in the direction parallel to the commontangent of the feeding disks.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated my invention as appliedto a machine of the type just described.

The object of my invention is to improve and simplify machines of thischaracter.

In carrying out my invention I have provided a feeding mechanism inwhich .one of the disks may be advanced or retarded in its normalmovement relative to the other to full one or the other of the two edgesof the work sewed together, while the other feed disk is positivelylocked at all times against any movement other than its normal feedingmovement, and this I have done by an arrangement which does not put aheavy fric tional load on the feeding mechanism. I have also greatlysimplified the mechanism for giving the looper its necessary movements,while providing for certain desired adjustments by which the path of thelooper may be varied in a way not heretofore possible.

My invention also comprises features of construction and arrangementtending to simplify the construction of the machine and improve itsoperation while providing all necessary and desirable adjustments.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this specification. For a better understanding of my invention,however, and the advantages possessed by it, reference may be had to theaccompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which I have illustratedand described forms of mechanism embodying my invention.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the sewing machineproper, with parts broken away and in section. Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe machine with the top frame cap removed. Fig. 3 is a front endelevation of the machine. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the adjustablebearing for the needle bar. Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 55 ofFig. 4. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the head of the needle bar withthe needle secured in place. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation on the line7-7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the feedingmechanism. Fig. 9 is an elevation of one of the gears shown in Fig. 8,with the position of the meshing gear indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 10is a perspective view of another portion of the feeding mechanism. Fig.1]. is an elevation, partly diagrammatic, illustrating a modification ofthe looper mechanism. Fig. 12 is a view taken similarly to Fig. 11,showing a third form of a looper or mechanism. Fig. 13 is an elevationtaken at right angles to Fig. 12, and, Fig. 14 is an elevation of thegear meshing with the gear of Fig. 9. Fig. 15 is a front end elevationof the machine proper assembled on its support.

The framework or housing of the machine comprises a main boXlike portionA, a removable front portion A and a removable top cap portion A Thehousing is provided with upper and lower bearings A and A for the poweractuated shaft B, which carries at its upper end the feed disk C. The

shaft B has a gear B adjustably secured to 1 it by means of screws B.The gear B rests upon the upper end of the bearing A and thus controlsthe elevation of the disk C. A spring B extending between the undersideof the bearing A and the upper side of the gear wheel B holds the latteragainst the 1 top side of the bearing A and prevents any lost motion. Toassist in adjusting the parts in assembling the machine, an adjustablestep bearing in the form of screw B threaded into the hearing A andlocked in place by a nut B may be employed. The gear B is driven by acooperating gear D, which is secured to a shaft D journaled at its endson the trunnion pivots D which are threaded in the housing wall A andare adjustable to move the shaft D in the direction of its length, totake up lost motion between the gears B and D. Lock nuts D secure thepivots D in any desired position. The gear D is provided with acylindrical flange D which passes through a slot E formed in a drivingdog or member E. The member E is provided at one end with branches E andE which extend on opposite sides of the shaft D. The branches E and Eare separated by a distance somewhat greater than the diameter of theshaft D, and a spring 4 4 urges the branch E toward the shaft D. Theother end of the member E is connected by a pin E to a lever F intowhich the pin E is screwed. The lever F is pivotally connected to thehousing A through a fulcrum F adjustable in a slot F in the lever F, andprovided with a threaded extension which passes through the slot A inthe housing and may be clamped in any desired position by the nut F Theslot A is open at its forward end to facilitate assembling the partswhen the frame portion A is removed. The opposite end of the lever F tothat connected to the member E is pivoted to a link G having its upperend apertured to receive the main driving shaft H of the sewing machine,which is journaled in bearings formed in the housing A. The member G isprovided with lugs G and G (Fig. 3) which embrace a cam H on the shaftH.

The gear D, as 'best shown in Figs. 8 and 9 has formed on one faceadjacent its periphery a series of gear teeth D. These gear teeth are Vshaped in cross section, and are, in the form shown, each curved about acen ter, the locus of the centers being the circle D of Fig. 9. The gearB is provided with meshing teeth each of which is, in the form shown,dividedinto two parts, B and B by a circumferential groove formed in thegear. These teeth are also V shaped in cross section, and the crown ofeach tooth, B and B is curved about a center which is located in theline of intersection of the plane tangent to the gear at the tooth andthe plane midway between the two sets of teeth portions B and B and at adistance from the tooth equal to the distance between the centers of theshafts B and D. As a result of this construction, the gear D whenrotated readily drives the gear B but the teeth engage in such mannerthat the pressure exerted on the teeth D by the teeth of the gear B whenthe latter is acted on by forces tending to rotate it does not tend torotate the gear D. As a result the gear D forms a lock which holds thegear B against all movement other than its regular feeding movement. Asthe upper end of the link G rises and falls with the rotation of theshaft H the lever F is oscillated. This raises and lowers the outer endof the member E. As the member E rises the flange D is gripped betweenthe walls of the slot E, so that thegear D and member E turn togetherabout the axis of the shaft D, thus imparting a movement to the feedingdisk C. When the upper end of the member E falls, however, the spring Eyields to allow relative movement of the flange D and the slot E and thegear D then remains stationary.

The outer feed disk C is journaled on a shaft C the lower threaded endof which is screwed into a threaded socket formed in the outer end ofthe bent arm or goose neck I. The wall of the socket in the goose neck Iis split at one side and the parts may be drawn together in the usualmanner by a screw 1. The feed disk C is held against displacement in anupward direction by a grooved mem her I and screw 1 threaded into theshaft C The member I is provided with a groove 1 in which the needle Jtravels and is protected. The goose neck I is secured to parallel rods Iand I which slide in bearings formed in the housing wall A to move thedisk C toward and away from the disk C. The lower bar I is provided atopposite sides with recesses I which receive the bifurcations formed atthe upper end of one arm of a bell crank lever I which is mounted on ashaft I pivotally supported by bearing members 1 and I carried by thehousing wall. The spring I surrounding the shaft 1 and having one endsecured to the bearing member I and. the other end to the bell crank 1normally holds the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1 with the feeddisk C bearing firmly against the feed disk 0. The tension of the springI may be adjusted by rotating the bearing member I which may be clampedin any desired position by a set screw 1. A connecting red I runningfrom the second arm of the bell crank I to any suitable operating devicesuch as a lever to be operated by the knee of the operator forms a meansby which the feed disk 0 may be moved away from the feed disk C when itis desirable, as in entering or removing work from between the feeddisks.

The needle J is clamped in the head J of the needle bar J by means of amovable clamping jaw J and screw J (Figs. 6 and 7). A thread guidemember K is removably secured to the head J by a screw K. The

plate K, which covers portions of the front end and side of the needlebar head, has a hook K which forms an upper thread guide, and an eye Kthrough which the needle J and the thread from the hook K pass. A threadclamp L in the form of a headed screw or bolt passes through the plate Kand the needle bar head J. A spring L extending between the plate K andthe nut L on the end of the screw L tends to hold the latter in theposition shown in Fig. 7, in which position the thread passing from thehook K to the eye K is clamped against the guide member K by the head ofthe screw L. A cam L holds the head of the screw L away from the plate Kagainst the tension of the spring except when the needle approaches theouter limit of its movement, when the screw head clamps the threadagainst the guide member K and thus holds the thread tightly during thefinal outward and initial return movements of the needle so that thestitch is prop erly drawn up and the loop thereafter formed is properlymade. The needle bar J has bearings in the front and rear walls of thehousing A. The front bearing J is in the form of a bushing (Figs. 4 and5) having an outer conical portion J and an inner threaded. portion JThe conical portion J has kerfs J 8 formed in it so that when theconical portion is drawn home in the socket formed to receive it in thehousing wall A by a nut J screwed on the inner threaded end J the outerportion of the bushing is contracted about the needle bar J By thisarrangement the lost motion between the needle bar and the frontbearing, resulting from wear, can be easily taken up from time to timewithout disturbing the alinement of the needle bar. Longitudinalreciprocations are imparted to the needle bar J through a yoke J securedto the needle bar and provided with arms J which straddle the cam oreccentric II on the main shaft II.

The bent looper M is adjustably secured to a looper bar M by the chuck hcarried by the bar M. The looper bar M is rotatively mounted in thelooper supporting frame or member M In the form of the invention shownin Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the member M is provided with a slot M in which isreceived a guide pin A carried by the housing A. The member M is givenmovement in a direction parallel to the movement of the needle throughintegral arms M which straddle the cam or eccentric II on the main shaft11. The front or operating end M of the looper is caused to rise andfall at the proper time by means of an arm in the form of a disk Mconnected to a supporting bracket M by a shaft h and connected by awrist pin M to an extension M of the member M The bracket M is securedto the housing wall by screws M and is slotted to permit verticaladjustment of the bracket. The bracket may be held at differentdistances from the housing by means of shims or spacers M insertedbetween the bracket and the housing wall. In place of this arrangementfor adjusting the bracket any other well known means of adjustment maybe employed.

By raising or lowering the bracket M, the path traveled by the operatingend W of the looper may be raised or lowered, and by moving the brackettoward or away from the housing the elevation of the looper at the innerend of its stroke may be raised and the position of the looper at theouter end of its stroke be lowered or vice versa. By a combination ofthe adjustments of the bracket M", in the two directions, therefore, theposition of the operating end M of the looper at each end of its strokemay be varied as de sired. The looper bar N" is rotated to move theoperating end of the looper in a direction transverse to the path of theneedle by means of an arm M secured to the looper bar M and entering arecess M in the looper supporting member M This arm carries a cam roll Mwhich enters a cam way M formed in the cam disk II carried by the mainshaft II.

The construction shown in. Fig. 1. 1. is essentially the same as thatshown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, except that the arm M of the firstconstruction is dis )ensed with and the looper supporting member M isconnected to the arm or link M by the pin M at a point above the centerof the looper bar M. And I prefer the construction of Figs. 1, 2, and 3to that of Fig. 11 because of this difference in the location of thepivotal connection between the member 11 2 and the eccentric disk l\ Swhich gives a more convenient arrangement of parts and a more desirablepath of motion for the looper end M In the construction shown in Figs.12 and 13, the looper supporting member has a per tion M surrounding theforward end of the looper bar M made cylindrical to slide in a sleeve Npivotally connected, to an arm N carried by rock shaft N which isoscillated through an arm N and cam roll N, the latter traveling in acam way formed in a disk car ried by the main shaft H. In theconstruction shown, this disk is the disk II" in which the cam way M isformed, but to avoid complications I have not attempted to show in Figs.11, 12 and 13, the cam paths formed in the disk II.

As shown in Fig. 15, the machine housing A is mounted on a support ortable I The rod I from the bell crank I extcn ds through the support andis connected to the operating lever Q as by means of the bell cranklever O pivoted on the bracket 0 secured to the support, and the rod 0The lever Q, which is pivoted in the bracket Q secured to the support P,has its operating end Q extended in position to be engaged by the kneeof the operator. The support or table P is carried by side frames orlegs P, in which is journaled the shaft R carrying the treadle R. Thelatter is connected through the extension R and connecting rod. R to theshaft S eccentrically carried by the pulley S journ aled on shaft Scarried by one of the side frames P. The pulley S drives the main shaftII through the pulley S carried by the latter and the belt S. By thisarrangement the operator may employ both feet to rock the treadle R anddrive the machine and without removing his feet from the treadle mayengage the lever Q to separate the feed disks 0 and C when necessary toremove or insert work.

Vfith the construction illustrated, as has been pointed out, the path ofthe operating end M" of the looper can be varied as desired, as forexample to make the looper act in a proper manner with needles ofdifferent sizes or adjustment and with. varying kinds of work. Theadjustable thread guide m em,- ber K and. thread clamp L, which. aresubj ected to rapid wear, may be easily replaced by a new thread guideand clamp when necessary or desirable. The feed disks may readily beadjusted to the proper relation with respect to the shape and travel ofthe needles used. This is of importance since in machines of this typethe strain, on tightening the stitches cannot be withstood by the fineneedles employed unless the latter are properly supported. by the edgesof the feed disks.

The feeding mechanism is positive in its action and is so arranged thatthe feed disk C may be advanced. or retarded with respect to the feeddisk C in order to full one side or the other of the work without disturbing the position of the feed disk (1, thereby insuring a properstitch disposition under all conditions. By arranging the loopersupporting frame with rigidly connected cam engaging arms directly actedupon by a cam on the main shaft, the to an d. fro movement of the loopersupporting member is obtained with a minimum number of parts, and muchundesirable lost motion is thereby avoided.

Having now described my invention, what I claim new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. In a sewing machine for overseaming having a reciprocating needle anda looper, a looper supporting member, means for reciprocating the saidmember in a direction substantially parallel to the movement of theneedle, a stationary support, a link connection between said support andthe looper supporting member for causing a rising and falling movementof the latter as it is reciprocated, and means for adjusting the linkconnection to vary said rising and falling movement.

2. In a sewing machine for overseaming having a main. frame, areciprocating needle means for reciprocating said member in a directionsubstantially parallel to the movement of the needle, a supportadjustably secured to the main frame and a link connection between thesupport and thelooper supporting member for giving a rising and fallingmovement to the latter as it is reciprocated.

3. In a sewing machine for overseaming having a main frame, areciprocating needle and aloeper, a looper supporting member, means forreciprocating said. member in a direction substantially parallel to themovement of the needle, a support secured to the main frame andadjustable with respect thereto in two directions, and a link connectionbetween the support and the looper sup- DOl'lllDg member for giving arising and falling movement to the latter as it is reciprocated.

l. In a sewing machine for overseaming having a main frame, areciprocating needle, a looper bar, and a looper supporting member in.which said looper bar is journaled, a pin and. slot sliding connectionbetween the rear end of the looper supporting member and the main frame,and a link connection between. the main frame and the forward end of thelooper supporting member, said link connection comprising a supportsecured to said main. frame and adjustable with respect thereto in adirection parallel to the line of movement of the needle and also in adirection toward and away from the line of movement of the needle, and alink pivotally connected at one end to said support and at the other endto said supporting member, and means for giving said looper supportingmember a reciproeatory movement relative to said main frame.

5. In a sewing machine for overseaming having a main frame, areciprocating needle and a looper, a looper supporting member, means forreciprocating said. member in a direction substantially parallel to theline of movement of the needle, a sliding connection between. the rearend of the supporting member and said main frame, a support secured tothe main frame, a link connection between the support and the forwardend of the looper smaporting member for giving a rising an d fallingmovement to the latter as it is reciprocated, and means for adjustingsaid support relative to the main frame in a direction substantiallyparallel to the line of movement of the needle.

(3. In a sewing machine for overseaming having a main. frame, areciprocating needle and a looper, a looper supporting member, arotating shaft, a cam carried thereby for directly engaging saidsupporting member to reciprocate it in a direction substantiallyparallel to the movement of the needle, a sliding connection between thelooper supand a looper, a looper supporting member, l porting member andmain frame, a link con- QC 6 "IOU nection between the looper supportingmember and the main frame whereby the looper supporting member is givena rising and falling movement as it is reciprocated, and means foradjusting the link connection to vary said rising and falling movement.

7. In a sewing machine for overseaming, a feed disk for advancing thework, a shaft carrying said disk, a gear secured to said shaft andprovided with curved peripheral teeth, a second shaft extending. atright angles to the first, a gear carried by said second shaft andprovided with curved teeth on one face which mesh with the peripheralteeth on the other gear, the teeth on the two gears being so curved andarranged that the second gear may drive the first but the first cannotdrive the second, and means for intermittently advancing said secondgear.

8. In a sewing machine for overseaming, a feed disk for advancing thework, a shaft carrying said disk, a second shaft, means forintermittently rotating said second shaft, and gearing connecting saidshafts in such manner that the second shaft can drive the first shaftbut the first shaft cannot drive the second shaft, said gearingcomprising a gear B secured to the first shaft and having peripheralteeth B, B and a gear D secured to the second shaft and having on oneface teeth D which mesh with the teeth 13, E the teeth D being eachcurved about a center, the locus of the centers being a circleconcentric with the shaft D and between it and the teeth D and eachtooth B, B being curved about a center located in a plane tangent to thetooth.

9. In a sewing machine for overseaming, a feed disk for advancing thework, a shaft carrying said disk, a gear secured to said shaft, a secondshaft at an angle to the first, a gear carried by it and meshing withthe first mentioned gear, said gears having their teeth so formed andarranged that the first gear can be driven by but cannot drive thesecond gear, means for intermittently advancing the second gear andmeans for adjusting said. sec ond shaft in the direction of its lengthto take up lost motion between the gears.

10. In a sewing machine for overseaming, a feed disk for advancing thework, a shaft carrying said disk, a gear mounted on said shaft, meansfor securing the gear to the shaft in different positions along thelength of the latter, a frame abutment on which said gear bears and aspring for holding said gear against said abutment, a second shaft atright angles to the first, a gear secured thereto and meshing with thefirst mentioned gear, and means for adjusting said second shaft in thedirection of its length to take up lost motion between the gears.

11. In a sewing machine for overseaming, a feed disk for advancing thework, a shaft carrying said disk, a gear securedto said shaft,

a second shaft at an angle to the first, a gear carried by it andmeshing with the first mentioned gear, said gears having their teeth soformed and arranged that the first may be driven by but cannot drive thesecond gear, said second gear being provided with a cylindrical flangeportion, and means for intermittently advancing the second gear, saidmeans comprising a dog E having a recess E receiving said cylindricalflange and having branches E and E loosely straddling said second shaft,a spring E tending to urge the branch toward and the branch E away fromsaid second shaft, and means engaging said dog' and oscillating it aboutsaid second shaft, whereby when the dog turns in one direction theflange will be gripped by the walls of the recess E, and when the dog isturned in the other direction. the spring IE will yield and the dog willnot carry the gear wheel back with it.

12. In a sewing machine for overseaming, a feed disk for advancing thework, a shaft carrying said disk, a gear secured to said shaft, asecond. shaft at an angle to the first, a gear carried by it and meshingwith the first mentioned gear, said gears having their teeth so formedand arranged that the first gear may be driven by but cannot drive thesecond gear, said second gear being provided with a cylindrical flangeportion, and means for intermittently advancing the second gear, saidmeans comprising a dog having a recess receiving said cylindricalflange, means engaging said dog for oscillating it, and a springextending between said dog and said shaft, whereby when the dog turns inone direction said gear flange will be gripped between the walls of therecess in the dog, and when the dog is turned in the other direction thespring will yield to permit the dog to turn without carrying the gearwheel back with it.

13. In a sewing machine for overseaming, a feed disk, means forintermittently advancing it, a second feed disk, a goose neck carryingsaid second disk, an extension from the goose neck slidingly received inthe sewing machine frame, an oscillating shaft supported in the frame,an arm mounted thereon and engaging said extension to move the secondfeed disk toward and away from the first as the arm is turned, a helicalspring surrounding said shaft and having one end fixed with respect tosaid arm, and a support to which the other end of the spring is secured,said support being adjustable angularly with respect to the axis of saidshaft.

14;. In a sewing machine, a reciprocating needle bar, a thread guidemember adjustably secured thereto, covering portions of the front endand one side of the needle bar, and provided with an eye through whichthe needle and thread pass, a thread clamp in the form of a headed rodpassing through said guide member, a spring acting on said rod operationof the machine.

tending to hold it in position to clamp the thread between its head andthe thread guide member, and a cam intermittently engaging said clamp toforce the head away from the thread guide member and release the thread.

15. In a sewing machine, a reciprocating needle bar, a thread guidemember detachably secured thereto covering portions of the front end andone side of the needle bar and provided with an eye through which theneedle and thread pass, a thread clamp in the form of a headed screwpassing through said thread guide member and having a nut on itsthreaded end, a spring surrounding the screw and extending between thethread guide member and the nut, and tending to hold the screw in theposition in which the thread is clamped between the head of the screwand the thread guide member, and a stationary cam in position to engagethe screw and move it against the tension of the spring to release thethread at regular intervals in the 16. In a sewing machine foroverseaming, a feed disk and connections from the main shaft of thesewing machine for intermittently advancing the feed disk, saidconnections including an oscillating dog, a lever having one endconnected to the dog, a link connected to the other end of the lever,and a cam on the main shaft acting on said link,

and a fulcrum for the lever carried by the main frame, said fulcrumbeing adjustable in slots formed in the main frame, and in the lever tovary the amount of oscillation of said dog and thereby the length of thestitch formed, said slot in the main frame being open at one end tofacilitate assembly of the parts, and a removable cover normally closingthe open end of'said slot.

17. In a sewing machine for overseaming, having the reciprocating needleJ, the looper M, and a pair of feed disks 0 and C, the combination withthe machine housing A, and the support P for the machine housing, of thegoose neck I in which thefeed disk C is supported, the goose neckextensions 1 and I slidingly supported in the housing A, the bell cranklever l for moving the goose neck to vary the distance between the disksC and C, the spring I tending to move the bell crank I to cause the disk0 to approach the disk 0, the lever Q pivoted to and extending below thesupport P, the connections between the lever Q and thel bell crank I formoving the goose neck I to separate the disks C and C, the treadle R andthe connection from it for operating the needle J, looper M, and feeddisk C, the lever Q being located in position to be operated by the kneeof the operator while both feet of the operator engage the ,treadle R.

- RAYMOND L. PLUMLEY. lVitnesses ARNOLD KATZ, D. STEWART.

